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Saturday, March 22, 2008

Will they really let someone this good be president?

Sorry, I have to gush political again. But it's all so inspiring.

Obama turned potential media fiasco-making on it's head this week, in a public response to critical attacks on his former pastor's radical political views. The situation became highly racialized, which scared the more timid swathes of Joe Public. I'm sure you've heard something about it. You may also have heard snippets of the speech he gave in response last tuesday. In any case, Obama's speech on race is one of the finest political movements of our time. It definitely deserves a listen in its entirety. You can hear the complete version on the SF Gate's blog here.

This speech awakens a part of my brain nostalgic for old scratchy tapes of JFK or Martin Luther King Jr. It seems astonishing that someone who can speak this well can be a real live political option in the 21st century. Obama is not only a thoughtful and stunning orator, he also doesn't politically gloss over hard truths or speak his way around things. This speech is soaring in its optimism and goals for positive change, but at the same time it manages to be chillingly aware of the issues America faces.

I simply cannot believe an american politician had the guts to get up and tackle any problems of race, nevermind openly declare that racial prejudice is misdirected, saying that prejudice "distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze -- a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many."

Da-yum! A presidential hopeful just gave the finger to corporate power! In the same speech that referenced Youtube and set media bullshit-mongering to task! All while casually declaring the war in Iraq as irrevocably wrong. And did I mention it's consistently and believably hopeful?

If you live anywhere with a chance to weigh in this year, for the love of god vote for this man. If you're stuck in a Steak-red state like Utah do whatever you can to further this campaign.

Because if we can't do it now, with someone this good, we're doomed, kid.

Bye

America, the Mid East, overground, underground. I hope to keep the ideas far-reaching. Please join into the mix via comments, and if you'd like to let me know about a thing or two please drop me an email